The Minister of Indigenous Affairs says the province has been on the ground in Bearskin Lake First Nation from the off-set in the midst of a serious COVID outbreak.
Nearly half of the community of 400 has tested positive and even more are in quarantine.
Greg Rickford says the government is “all-in” and notes their immediate priority is coordinating and complement the resources that the federal government is providing.
He stresses it’s an evolving situation.
The Kenora-Rainy River MPP says they have been working with band and council and other agencies to determine and address critical needs.
Rickford says the province has also been working closely with Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Windigo First Nations Council and Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority.
He notes their responsibility right now is providing COVID specific funding to address existing gaps.
“The pieces that we’ve been working on outside of just surge funding for the community to use for a variety of different activities is also focused on funding and mobilizing access to additional PPE and sanitization supplies.”
Rickford says the province is also assisting to provide traditional healing supports and off-set the costs associated with testing clinics.
He believes they are making some headway.
“The federal government’s coordinated efforts with us have significantly improved the amount of resources there that are targeted and some of the needs moving forward that we have taken from Chief Kamenawatamin.”
Rickford says that includes additional isolation spaces for those who test positive, service vehicles for the community and security for the nursing station.
